RHS Tatton – 3 Weeks to go

I maybe confusing some folk, when I say 3 weeks to go, this is 3 weeks until I GO to RHS Tatton, the show is open to the public from Wednesday 20th July until Sunday 24th July. I will be there building from 6th July to start the build and leaving around 27th July after we’ve showed off for a week and then dismantled the garden in quick sharp time!

It’s been a week of admin. Trust me there is a GREAT deal of admin. The RHS have an extensive manual for the purpose of informing entrants of the rules and how things work. This is one time you read all the FAQ’s before sending an email. In general almost every possible query is answered because we all do it more or less the same way and the ways of working processes don’t change.

So this week we’ve completed a rather last minute final approval of content/artwork for the show guide (about 36 hours notice), I am reviewing the client brief for the #InnerSanctum garden as this crucial document is what we will be judged upon come assessment day. If it closely matches what we actually deliver then we get top marks! Following this there is the artwork for our Show Garden Board due end of next week, and starting the artwork for our own flyer on Monday. There are services to be finalised on site, supporters and materials to be chosen and ordered. Amongst all this I have very real design clients to work with. Juggling and working some very late nights!

The wonderful water feature is coming along beautifully. Anja from Ceramics buy Anja is creating us a very elegant piece, large by her usual standards which brings it’s own challenges and experiments. The mechanics of the water element have arrived and are being tested for suitability this week. The aluminum structure upon which the ceramics will sit is ready and waiting for it’s glamorisation.

The base of the water feature in the raw clay

The metal arbor, now in it’s third incarnation, is back with the contemporary artisan steel makers, Adam & Tom, at Art Metal for final approval of structure and costings. The wait to see this in the flesh is both exciting and slightly nerve wracking.

A seat is being crafted for us by a local willow worker, Wassledine. A large chunk of wood (probably western red cedar), carved with intricate patterns and surrounded by local woven willow, will play a central role in the garden.

Mixed colours of local grown willow

We have had a great response from CED Stone Group who are supporting us with all the stone for the garden path and the pebble decorations under the water feature.

Along with all these developments we will be in the press next week, The Cambridge Magazine have written a superb article about the garden and the designers.

Now we just need to make the garden as fabulous as we can to live up to all our expectations.